Latest releases
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4,385 releases
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Carroll: Stormont Stalemate Robbing Thousands of a Second Chance at Education
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll condemns the planned cut of almost 8,000 further‑education places, saying the Executive’s budget stalemate will hit working‑class, women returning to work and newcomers, and calls for emergency funding to restore the places.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Planned cuts of 8,000 further‑education places Original release: Carroll: Stormont Stalemate Robbing Thousands of a Second Chance at Education (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 3 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister announces Support While Waiting Grant Scheme
UUP reports Health Minister Robbie Butler has announced £500,000 to extend the Support While Waiting Grant Scheme for another year, funding voluntary groups to offer free support to people on HSCNI waiting lists. Applications open 25 September 2026 and close 6 November 2026.
Health Issue: Support While Waiting Grant Scheme extension announcement Original release: Health Minister announces Support While Waiting Grant Scheme (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Trust, Minister and Department must find solutions to Daisy Hill Maternity crisis – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh Dáire Hughes calls on the Southern Trust, the health department and the Health Minister to find workable fixes for the Daisy Hill maternity crisis, saying local expectant mothers are anxious and warning of patient safety risks over capacity and travel times.
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services crisis and possible relocation to Craigavon Original release: Trust, Minister and Department must find solutions to Daisy Hill Maternity crisis – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Minister needs to fulfil promise of transparency and communication:…
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says the Health Minister must deliver on promised transparency after he failed to answer questions at the Health Committee on the youngest puberty blocker recipient and the Maternity Hospital handover review. She claims bowel screening and thrombectomy announcements were hard…
Health Issue: Health Committee questioning of Health Minister on transparency and communication Original release: Minister needs to fulfil promise of transparency and communication:… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 1 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Givan launches programme to boost support for pupils preparing for…
DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan announces a new Primary Literacy and Numeracy / Transitions Support Programme for Primary 6 and 7 pupils, with up to £600,000 for schools in 2026/27 and expressions of interest open until 1 October.
Education Issue: Primary Literacy and Numeracy / Transitions Support Programme launch Original release: Givan launches programme to boost support for pupils preparing for… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 1 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Calling it a final offer doesn't make it fair
UUP Finance Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA says the UK Government's latest funding package is not fair or sufficient despite its movement, calls for an agreed multi-year Budget, and urges the Secretary of State to stay open to further targeted support rather than threatening to set spending…
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: UK Government final offer on Northern Ireland funding package Original release: Calling it a final offer doesn't make it fair (opens in a new tab)
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Clear answers must be provided on proposed Richill AFC funding allocation – Sheehan
Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Pat Sheehan MLA calls for clear answers from Education Minister Paul Givan on a proposed £30,000 allocation for a football pitch at Richhill AFC, questioning changed departmental advice after the minister's visit and asking the Education Committee to investigate.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed £30,000 funding allocation for Richhill AFC football pitch Original release: Clear answers must be provided on proposed Richill AFC funding allocation – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: Teachers Right to Take stand. Minister Must Deliver Not Delay
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll backs teachers and school leaders in industrial action, urging Education Minister Paul Givan to deliver a funded plan cutting workload instead of seeking more time on the workload review's 27 proposals.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Teacher workload industrial action and Independent Teacher Workload Review implementation Original release: Carroll: Teachers Right to Take stand. Minister Must Deliver Not Delay (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Belfast Met cuts expose cost of Executive Budget failure
SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole says cuts of over 2,500 places at Belfast Met reflect the impact of the Executive's failure to agree a Budget, noting the college is on a contingency allocation with a shortfall of about £6.8m. He calls on the four Executive parties to resolve the Budget impasse.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Belfast Met student places cuts linked to Executive Budget Original release: O'Toole: Belfast Met cuts expose cost of Executive Budget failure (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Gannon: Broadband investment welcome but delivery is what matters
SDLP Fermanagh and South Tyrone Councillor Adam Gannon welcomes confirmation that 1,892 local premises are included in Project Gigabit, the highest of any constituency, and calls for prompt delivery. He urges the Economy Minister to begin planning now for what follows the project and identify…
Infrastructure and transport Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Project Gigabit premises figures for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Original release: Gannon: Broadband investment welcome but delivery is what matters (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Harkin: Defend Public Transport - No Service Cuts, No Fare Hikes
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says public transport must be protected and expanded, not cut, ahead of a Derry and Strabane Council debate on his motion opposing Translink service cuts and fare rises. The motion would have the council write to Translink and the DfI Minister and invite…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Translink consultation on service cuts and discount fare removal Original release: Harkin: Defend Public Transport - No Service Cuts, No Fare Hikes (opens in a new tab)
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Inquiry on Cross-departmental funding for Suicide prevention launched – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn, mental health spokesperson, says the Executive must provide a fair cross‑departmental funding package for suicide prevention and hold regular Executive Working Group meetings, after launching an All‑Party Group report on the issue.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: All‑Party Group report on cross‑departmental suicide prevention funding Original release: Inquiry on Cross-departmental funding for Suicide prevention launched – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Paul Lawless Launches Mayo Bones Bus to Help Orthopaedic Patients Access Treatment
Aontú TD Paul Lawless announces the Mayo Bones Bus, an initiative to help people with hip, knee and other bone or joint conditions obtain information on cross-border treatment options amid long orthopaedic waiting lists. It follows his Mayo Cataract Bus, with an information session planned in…
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Education Minister must bring forward a plan to reduce teacher workload – Sheehan
Sinn Féin education spokesperson Pat Sheehan calls on Education Minister Paul Givan to present a credible plan that reduces teacher workload, saying teachers have warned for years and should not need industrial action to be heard.
Education Issue: Teaching unions announce industrial action short of strike Original release: Education Minister must bring forward a plan to reduce teacher workload – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Maternity announcement demands answers from Health Minister
DUP representatives call for urgent clarity after the Southern Trust announced changes to maternity care at Daisy Hill, asking whether this is a wider reduction in services and whether the Health Minister will set out the clinical basis and duration.
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services crisis and possible relocation to Craigavon Original release: Maternity announcement demands answers from Health Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows urges Givan to act before workload dispute escalates to strikes
UUP leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA urges Education Minister Paul Givan to return to talks and agree a time-bound plan to implement the Independent Review of Workload in full, ahead of teachers' action short of strike from 28 September.
Education Issue: Teaching unions announce industrial action short of strike Original release: Burrows urges Givan to act before workload dispute escalates to strikes (opens in a new tab)
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Stop Belfast City Airport Expansion
Green Party Northern Ireland calls on Belfast City Airport and decision‑makers to reject the plan to raise the yearly flight limit from 48,000 to about 61,000 and to stop extending operating hours to 10.30 pm, urging protection of noise safeguards for local residents.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast City Airport proposed increase in flight movements Original release: Stop Belfast City Airport Expansion (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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SAVE DAISY HILL MATERNITY – DON’T LET “TEMPORARY” BECOME FOREVER
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Urgent action needed on Daisy Hill maternity – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins urges the Health Minister to act on the crisis at Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services, calling for recruitment of clinical staff, including from other Trusts and across the island, and warning against relocating services to Craigavon.
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services crisis and possible relocation to Craigavon Original release: Urgent action needed on Daisy Hill maternity – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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Taylor: Priority must be to keep consultant-led maternity care at Daisy Hill
UUP Councillor David Taylor says retaining inpatient maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital must be the priority after the Southern Trust flagged medical workforce pressures. He calls for a full explanation from the Trust, an urgent meeting on workforce planning, and clear conditions for any…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services crisis and possible relocation to Craigavon Original release: Taylor: Priority must be to keep consultant-led maternity care at Daisy Hill (opens in a new tab)